my surface pc microphone does not work

Craig Knoche 0 Reputation points
2026-09-26T00:05:25.88+00:00

The microphone on my surface pc does not work. The microphone on my surface pc does not work. The microphone on my surface pc does not work.

Surface | Surface Pro | Sound and camera
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  1. Clary-N 16,660 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-26T05:31:15.03+00:00

    Hi Craig Knoche,

    Thanks for reaching out. To help narrow this down, could you let me know the exact Surface Pro model and whether Microphone Array appears under Settings > System > Sound > Input or Device Manager > Audio inputs and outputs?

    Please also try making a short recording with Sound Recorder. Does the microphone fail there too or only in a particular app such as Teams or Zoom? If you have a headset, dock, monitor, USB audio device or Bluetooth accessory connected, disconnect it temporarily and test the built-in microphone again. If possible, please also let me know whether an external microphone works.

    Since the usual settings, updates and driver troubleshooting have already been covered, I’d suggest running the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit next. It can help identify hardware, software or firmware issues affecting the Surface.

    If the built-in microphone still fails in every app while an external microphone works, it may need further inspection or service.

    Let me know what you find from these checks and I’ll be happy to help with the next step.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-09-26T00:05:37.3333333+00:00

    Try these steps in order:

    1. In Start > Settings > System > Sound, under Input, make sure the correct microphone is selected.
    2. Make sure Allow apps and Windows to use this device for audio is turned on.
    3. Increase the mic level:
      • For Windows 11: Start > Settings > System > Sound > select the microphone > under Input settings, use Start test, speak normally, then Stop test and Play. Raise Input volume if needed.
      • On some Surface devices, open Sound control panel > Recording tab > select the microphone > Properties > Levels. Adjust Microphone and, if available, Microphone Boost. A good starting point is Microphone = 50 and Microphone Boost = +24.0 dB.
    4. Turn off any special Audio enhancements.
    5. If using a Bluetooth headset or mic, make sure it is paired correctly.
    6. Check that nothing is blocking the microphone openings on the Surface.
    7. Restart the Surface: Start > Power > Restart.
    8. Check for Surface updates in the Surface app under Help & support. If updates are available, select Check for updates to open Windows Update.
    9. If Windows is not detecting the microphone, reinstall the audio drivers:
      • Right-click Start > Device Manager
      • Expand Sound, video and game controllers
      • Right-click the audio device > Uninstall device
      • If shown, select Attempt to remove the driver for this device
      • Restart the PC
      • If needed, return to Device Manager and select Scan for hardware changes
      • Then right-click the audio driver and select Update driver
    10. If the issue continues, manually update or reinstall Surface drivers.
    11. If none of these steps help, run the automated audio troubleshooter in the Get Help app.

    If the built-in microphone still does not work after updates, restart, and driver reinstall, service or repair may be needed.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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